27 Italian Cookie Recipes Just Like Nonna’s

Nonna’s pignoli cookies might be impossible to beat, or perhaps she was better known for her chocolate roll or amaretti cookies. You can capture that magic in your own kitchen with these incredible Italian cookie recipes! These treats are timeless for a reason, with melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness that’s been passed down for generations. So, grab your rolling pin and mixing bowls and make some unforgettable Italian cookies!

Amaretti Cookies

Italian Amaretti Cookies.
Italian Amaretti Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

All Italian cookies are wonderful, but naturally gluten free amaretti cookies just have to be one of the best ever! They go amazingly with coffee or another drink, and are the perfect snack at the end of a long day.
Get the Recipe: Amaretti Cookies

Italian Pignoli Cookies

Cookies with pine nuts on the plate.
Italian Pignoli Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Italian pignoli cookies, also known as Amaretti con Pignoli, are perfect for Christmas. You might like to add these wonderful Italian almond and pine nut cookies to your easy gluten free baking list for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pignoli Cookies

Baci di Dama Sandwich Cookies

Cookies sandwiched together with chocolate. These are one of the best Italian cookie recipes.
Baci di Dama Sandwich Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

These mini Italian chocolate filled sandwich cookies are made with chocolate and vanilla. One or two of these Italian cookies with chocolate in the middle will definitely put a smile on your face. The buttery vanilla cookies are sandwiched together with chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Baci di Dama Sandwich Cookies

Limoncello Italian Wedding Cookies

Limoncello cookies generously coated in powdered sugar.
Limoncello Italian Wedding Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Also known as Russian tea cookies, Italian snowball cookies, anginetti, polvorones, Russian tea cakes, butterballs, and Mexican wedding cookies, Italian wedding cookies are a bite-sized sweet treat that always tastes best when homemade.
Get the Recipe: Limoncello Italian Wedding Cookies

Italian Canestrelli Cookies

Italian Canestrelli Cookies.
Italian Canestrelli Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Canestrelli cookies are a little bit like shortbread but lighter, with more of a crunch, and a more in-depth flavour. These Christmas cookies are from Italy’s Liguria region, and are buttery tasting with delicious lemon fragrance evident in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Italian Canestrelli Cookies

Italian Nutella Cookies

Frosted chocolate cookies with chopped hazelnuts on top.
Italian Nutella Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Nutellotti soft nutella cookies are a great Italian Christmas cookie idea. A tasty chocolate and vanilla flavoured cookie is topped with a sweet and creamy Nutella topping. Add this to your list of the best Italian Cookie Recipes.
Get the Recipe: Italian Nutella Cookies

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Lemon Ricotta Cookies.
Lemon Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

The sweet tangy flavors in these lemon ricotta cookies is almost too amazing to describe. These cookies are easy but definitely impressive!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Italian Easter Cookies

Italian Easter Cookies.
Italian Easter Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

These tasty Italian Easter cookies are sweet, light and irresistible. They are topped with vanilla glaze and also boast festive sprinkles!
Get the Recipe: Italian Easter Cookies

Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies

Crumbly cookies with a chocolate swirl pattern inside.
Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Although holiday baking is largely about the flavour of the delicious treats you make, how they look is also important. It isn’t necessarily hard to make such nice-looking cookies, and these chocolate roll cookies are easy even for beginners.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies

Italian Fig Christmas Cookies

Fig filled cookies with frosting drizzled on top.
Italian Fig Christmas Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Boasting a crumbly dough encasing a sweet fig filling plus a yummy frosting on top, what more could you want from a cookie? The combination of flavors and textures in these fig cookies, also known as cucidati, makes them a wonderful choice.
Get the Recipe: Italian Fig Christmas Cookies

Buccellati Biscotti X Fig Cookies

X-shaped fig filled cookies.
Buccellati Biscotti X Fig Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

If you are a lover of figs, you need to try this recipe! These Italian style treats have quite a long list of steps and ingredients, but they are well worth making.
Get the Recipe: Buccellati Biscotti X Fig Cookies

Gingerbread Pizzelle

Pizzelle cookies with their distinctive pattern.
Gingerbread Pizzelle. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This gingerbread pizzelle recipe makes authentic Italian Christmas pizzelles. These holiday cookies have a crisp texture and delicious ginger snaps flavour. Aromatic cinnamon, ginger and cloves add a spicy touch to the pizzelle cookies, while molasses gives them a rich sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Pizzelle

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Christmas cookies with red and green swirls.
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Easy red and green Christmas pinwheel cookies are sure to put a smile on your face this holiday season. These festive Italian Christmas swirl cookies might look like something from an Italian bakery but it isn’t hard to make them.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Italian Chocolate Chestnut Tortelli Cookies

Powdered sugar coated Italian chestnut cookies.
Italian Chocolate Chestnut Tortelli Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Italian chocolate chestnut tortelli cookies are delicious desserts and also perfect for Christmas cookie exchange recipes. The chestnut filling is really good, as are the dark chocolate and rum flavours. These cookies need to be on your list of favorite Italian Cookie Recipes.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chocolate Chestnut Tortelli Cookies

Chocolate Salami

A roll of sweet chocolate salami made to resemble meat salami.
Chocolate Salami. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

A famous no bake treat all over Italy, Italian chocolate salami is a delicious combination of shortbread cookies, Amaretto liqueur and chocolate. It’s a delicious dessert which makes a nice edible Christmas gift. This chocolate log is made to resemble salami and it is known as salame di cioccolato in Italy.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Salami

Cranberry Orange Biscotti with White Chocolate Drizzle

Cranberry orange biscotti drizzled with icing.
Cranberry Orange Biscotti with White Chocolate Drizzle. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Cranberry orange biscotti are always good but especially during the festive period when cranberries and warm citrus flavours come into their own. Biscotti are famed for being a dry cookie that you dip into hot drinks.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Orange Biscotti with White Chocolate Drizzle

Holiday Butter Cookies

Butter cookies rolled in powdered sugar.
Holiday Butter Cookies. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

With just six simple ingredients, these holiday butter cookies are simple but taste absolutely delicious. They are soft, crumbly, and perfect for any occasion!
Get the Recipe: Holiday Butter Cookies

Tiramisu Cookies

Tiramisu cookies with a mascarpone cheese frosting.
Tiramisu Cookies. Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

These delicious, coffee-flavored tiramisu cookies are the perfect after-dinner treat, dessert table addition, or compliment to your morning cup of coffee. A delightful twist on the classic Italian dessert, this easy tiramisu cookie recipe combines espresso powder and sweet mascarpone frosting topped with cocoa powder.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu Cookies

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Frosted lemon cookies with lemon zest on top.
Lemon Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

Brighten up your world with a burst of citrusy bliss with these easy-to-make and delectably delicious Italian lemon ricotta cookies. With their soft melt-in-your-mouth texture and perfect balance of tangy to sweet, these lemon cookies are a true delight.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Soft Amaretti Cookies

Crinkle topped amaretti cookies.
Soft Amaretti Cookies. Photo credit: Maricruz Avalos.

Amaretti is a type of cookie of Italian origin prepared with almond flour, egg whites, and Amaretto liqueur. Dating back to the Middle Ages, the recipe also spread rapidly through the Arab countries and finally throughout Europe. They take their name because in old times only bitter almonds were used in their preparation. Amaro means bitter in Italian. These days, they’re sweet!
Get the Recipe: Soft Amaretti Cookies

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Frosted ricotta cookies decorated with colored sprinkles.
Italian Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: Pear Tree Kitchen.

These Italian ricotta cookies are always popular. This recipe promises soft, tender and fluffy sprinkle cookies with a cake-like texture that melts in your mouth will have everyone asking which bakery they came from.
Get the Recipe: Italian Ricotta Cookies

Italian Wedding Cookies

Powdered sugar covered Italian wedding cookies.
Italian Wedding Cookies. Photo credit: Pear Tree Kitchen.

Italian wedding cookies are delicious little, powdered sugar-coated, butter cookie bites with almonds. Also known as Italian butter balls, these cookies are sweet and tasty, offering a hint of vanilla too.
Get the Recipe: Italian Wedding Cookies

Chocolate-Dipped Almond Biscotti

Chocolate dipped biscotti with nuts.
Chocolate-Dipped Almond Biscotti. Photo credit: Sally McKenney at Sally’s Baking Addiction.

This recipe just might turn you into a biscotti lover. Sweetened with brown sugar, flavored with toasted almonds, and dipped in chocolate puts this crunchy biscotti at the top of everyone’s coffee pairing list.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Almond Biscotti

Riscotti Anise Cookies

Anise cookies with colorful sprinkles on top.
Riscotti Anise Cookies. Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie.

Not to be confused with biscotti, riscotti cookies are sweet, light little treats with colorful sprinkles on top. They’re perfect for a special occasion or simply because you want to try a new Italian cookies recipe. These are one of the best Italian Cookie Recipes!
Get the Recipe: Riscotti Anise Cookies

Glazed Cookies with Sprinkles

Pink frosted cookies with multicolored sprinkles on top.
Glazed Cookies with Sprinkles. Photo credit: Fun Cookie Recipes.

Italian Cookies with sprinkles are super soft, sweet and so simple to make! A simple pink glaze and bright sprinkles make these perfect for parties.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Cookies with Sprinkles

Italian Rainbow Cookies

italian rainbow cookies 021
Italian Rainbow Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella

Italian rainbow cookies have layers of almond cake sandwiched with raspberry jam and coated in chocolate. Perfect for Christmas or any day!
Get the Recipe: Italian Rainbow Cookies

Italian Almond Cookies

Powdered sugar sprinkled bell-shaped cookies.
Italian Almond Cookies. Photo credit: Lord Byron’s Kitchen.

Italian almond cookies are a perfect example of a basic looking cookie that tastes incredible. It’s the almond flour that gives these cookies so much texture, and that flavor is further fortified with almond extract.
Get the Recipe: Italian Almond Cookies

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